Bruise pad attachment

ABSTRACT

An inflatable bruise pad insert for protective gear such as cantilever type shoulder pads is held firmly in place adjacent to a gap which exists between the top and front portions of the shoulder pads. When partially inflated, the pad insert fills the gap and cushions blows to that region to prevent injuries to the wearer.

United States Patent 1191 Ettinger [541 -BRUISE PAD ATTACHMENT 75 Inventor: Donald N. man er, St. Louis, Mo. I [73] Assignee: Hit-Away, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind. [22] Filed: May18, 1972' 21 Appl.No.: 254,768

52 use .Q ..2/2

51 1111.01. ..A41d'13/00 58 Field of Search ..2/3 12, 2, 24; 36/71,44, 29

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,124,158 7/1938 Turner .Q ..2 24

1 51 Mar. 27,- 1973 PrimaryExaminer-Alfred R. Guest Attorney-Thomas P. Jenkins et a1.

[57] .ABSTRACT An inflatable bruise pad insert for protective gear suchas cantilever type shoulder pads is held firmly in place adjacent to a gap which exists between the top and front portions of the shoulder pads. When partially inflated, the padinsert fills the gap and cushions blows to that region to prevent injuries to the wearer.

} 11 Claims,5 Drawing figures 1 BRUISE PAD ATTACHMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a bruise pad attachment, and more particularly to an inflatable pad which may be inserted or attached to shoulder pads in a manner and position to cushion blows and reduce injuries.

Anyone who has ever played or watched football or any other body contact sport is well aware of the everpresent danger of injury to players. From the early days of football to the present time, injuries have occurred all too frequently. Unfortunately, the need for improved equipment has often become known only after serious injuries or fatalities have occurred.

In the early days of football little if any protective equipment was used by the players. Over the years,

however, protective equipment such as helmets, shoulder pads, thigh pads, and face guards, have been introduced and their use has become mandatory. And numerous improvements in protective gear have been made. For example, the close fitting aviator type helmets of the early days have gradually evolved into the strong padded helmets of today which are capable of withstanding heavy blows. In, addition, present day helmets are equipped with protective face guards'which serve to further reduce injuries. Shoulder pads too have evolved from the generally flat form-fitting padding of the past, to the padded plastic so-called cantilever pads of today. The cantilever type shoulder pads of today in which shoulder or cantilever straps support at least part of the arch portions of the pads away from the wearers shoulders are much better able to absorb and diffuse heavy blows to which they are subjected.

Injuries to and about the shoulders began plaguing football players with the beginning of the game. Broken collar bones, separation of the bones at the joint between the humerus and the shoulder blade, injury to the joint between the collar bone and the shoulder blade, injury to the deltoid muscle, and severe bruises in these areas have been continual problems. These problems have been readily apparent, and numerous suggested solutions have been advanced, as seen for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,757,019, 2,071,827, 2,247,961, and 2,761,143. Special pads to project injured areas of the body have also been suggested as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,020. I

Notwithstanding the many advances which have been .made' in protective gear and the rather so-' phisticated cantilever-type shoulder pads of today, such injuries persist. In fact, injuries to and around the shoulder areas, andparticularly to the deltoid muscle and front portion of the shoulder area have even increased. This particular area of the body is left somewhat exposed, especially to frontal blows. The socalled cantilever-type shoulder pads, with all their advantages, leave an opening or gap beneath the floppet and cap on each side of the body in the deltoid regions, exposing these vulnerable parts of the anatomy. This gap in the protective armor creates a serious hazard of painful and debilitating injuries. The significant increase in such point injuries in football in recent years is believed to be due in large part to the frontal attack or stand-up blocking and bear-hug tackling techniques now being used so extensively. When a football player is in an essentially upright position when tackling or blocking, with his arms extended and partially raised, theexposed front areas of the shoulders,

or point areas, are extremely vulnerable to injury.

The necessary mobility of a football player, or any necessary. These limiting factors have no doubt con-. tributed to the inability to solve the point gap problems in the design of shoulder pads.

Football trainers and coaches have sometimes tried to remedy this deficiency by stuffing the shoulder pad gaps with sponge rubber or cloth. But such expedients have not been very successful. Not only do such stuffings generally fail to adquately absorb blows, but

they often shift about, add bulk, and impede arm movements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention solves these perplexing problems.

This invention provides protective means effective to significantly reduce injuries. And it does so without structural complexity and at low cost.

An inflatable insert is held by or secured in the shoulderpad structure. The size and shape of the insert is such that when in place and partially inflated, it will fill the shoulder pad point gap region and provide an air cushion effectiveagainst severe blows to the deltoid and outer. crest atthe ball joint'of the humerus. Not

onlydoes the insert and shoulder pad combination provide a cushion for blows to the previously unprotected point-gap region, but also cushions blows to the top portions of the shoulder pads. The players arm movements are not impeded and the additional weight is essentially nil. The pad inserts are constructed so that they may be firmly held in the proper place without the necessity of extra attaching mechanisms, and may be readily removed, replaced,-inflated, and deflated, as desired. Shoulder pads equipped with the pad inserts are able to repeatedly absorb and widely distribute the impact of heavy blows, protecting the wearer and without damage to the equipment. Such pad inserts may be a part of the original equipment, or they may be used in conjunction with existing shoulder pads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of currently usedcantilever type shoulder pads, without the-pad insert of the I pad with a pad insert in place therein and inflated for use; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, illustrating means for locating and securing the pad insert in place. 3

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Protective gear such as'a pair of cantilever-type shoulder pads of a known type is illustrated generally in FIG. 1. by reference numeral 10. The shoulder pads have two complementary portions 12 and 14, which are right hand and left hand sides. The two side portions 12 and 14 are firmly but flexibly joined together at their backsides by webbing (not shown) which is riveted to the backsides of arch portions 16 and 18. Openings 20 in the front sides of arch portions 16 and 18 and the lacing 22 permit the two side portions 12 and 14 to be held together in the front. Padding 23 is attached to the undersides of arch portions 16 and 18 and protrudes beyond their extent.

Floppets or flaps 24 and 26 are attached by webbing 28 and 30 to the arch portions 16 and 18, respectively. Caps 32 and 34 are attached to arch portions 16 and '18, respectively, as by webbing 36 (FIG. 5). The caps 32 and 34 are positioned generally between the arch portions and the floppets, and extend outwardly beyond both. Padding 38 is attached to the undersides of caps 32 and 34 and protrudes well beyond their extent. Padding 23 and padding 38 is interposed between the wearers body and the hard structure of arch portions 16 and 18, floppets 24 and 26, and caps 32 and 34. Moreover, at least part of the arch portions 16 and 18 are supported away from the wearers body by straps 37 (FIG. 5) which are attached to the undersides of arch portions 16 and 18 above the padding 23. These straps 37, referred to as cantilever straps, provide a means for at least partially absorbing blows to the upper portions of the shoulder pads.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, these shoulder pads leave sizable unprotected areas or gaps, illustrated at 40, in

. strap 37 in the manner previously described. When secured in this manner, it does not shift about, not- 4 dimensions of insert 50 are such that when the flap 56 is folded over and then back under strap 37 betwenthe strap 37 and the padding 23, the cooperative action between the flap 56, the strap 37, and the padding 23 v will hold the insert firmly in place. When the inflatable portion 52 is partially inflated, it will fill the gap 40 and provide an air cushion covering'the previously exposed deltoid region of the wearer. For'this purpose, the 'more rounded edge 62 of the insert 50 is positioned in the front. Identical inserts may be used on both the right hand and left hand sides of the shoulder pads. With the edge 62 positioned in the front, the soft valve 54 will be on the top on one side and on the bottom-onthe other side.

The partially inflated insert 50 is maintained securely in place by the flap passing over then back under the withstanding the severe forces it absorbs. The partially inflated insert fills the gap 40 and provides an air cushion to blows to that region, and also to blows from above, such as blows more directly to the floppets 24 and 26 and the caps 32 and 34. The air cushion will repeatedly absorb blows and dissipate their impact over a wider area. The insertsi50 are capable of withstanding such punishment over a long period of time, providing protection to relatively delicate regions of the anatomy.

The insert 50 may be quickly and easily inserted or removed from the shoulder pads which house them.

Iclaim:

1. In a protective shoulder padhaving an arch portion and a shoulder strap which supports at least part of the arch portionaway from the shoulder of the wearer, a bruise pad attachment comprising a flexible insert having an inflatable portion, securing-means for securing the insert and the shoulder pad together, the size and shape of the insert being such that said inflatable portion, when partially-inflated, extends beyond the arch portion to cover the deltoid region of the wearer.

The gaps 40 in the wearers deltoid regions are closed by inserts 50. The inserts are made .of a strong, flexible material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride, and may be formed of complementary halves, heat-sealed together about their peripheries. Each insert 50 has an inflatable portion 52 with air ingress and egress means, such as a soft air valve 54. The portion 52 may be readily inflated by blowing into valve 54. Pushing in on valve 54 closes it and locks in the air. A flexible non-inflatable flap 56 is attached to the inflatable portion 52, and is preferably unitary therewith. A heat seal 58 separates the inflatable portion52 from the flap 56. A second heat seal 60 is provided across the entire .width of the flap 56. The distance between seals 58 and 60 is preferably about equal to. the width of a shoulder or cantilever strap 37. The flap 56 is of sufficient length (i.e., in the left to right direction of FIG. 2) to fit over and back under strap 37 and to extend partially under the inflated insert portion 52. .The shape and overall 2. In a protective shoulder pad having an arch portion and a shoulder strap which supports at least part of the arch portion away from the shoulder of the wearer,

a bruise pad attachment comprising a flexible insert having an inflatable portion, means for inflating said inflatable portion, and a flap connected to said inflatable portion, said flap being of sufficient length to be folded around said strap to secure the insert in position with said inflatable portion located in the gap adjacent the.

deltoid region of the wearer to cushion blows to that region.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein said inflatable portion and-said flap are of unitaryconstruction. a

4. 'The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein said flap is at least two times as long as the width of said shoulder strap.

5. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein said insert is formed of complementary portions sealed about the periphery and sealed between said inflatable tion and said flap.

6. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein said inflatable portion and said flap are separated from one another by a first seal extending entirely across the insert.

por-

7. The invention set forth in claim 6 wherein a second seal extends entirely across said flap, said second seal being generally parallel to said first seal and spaced from said first seal a distance approximately equal to the width of said shoulder strap.

8. An improved cantilever type shoulder pad having an arch portion with padding thereunder, a floppet, a

tion, when partially inflated, fills the gap in the deltoid region-of the wearer to cushion blows to that region.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8 wherein the partially inflated portionof said insert is carried on the outside of the arch portion and partially beneath the shoulder pad cap and extends outwardly and downwardly from the front part of said cap.

10. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said inflatable portion of the insert is formed of complementa ry portions sealed about the periphery and said securing means is connected with said inflatable portion exteriorly of the seal about the periphery.

11. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein the partially inflated portion of said insert is carried on the outside of the arch portion and extends outwardly beyondthe arch portion. 

1. In a protective shoulder pad having an arch portion and a shoulder strap which supports at least part of the arch portion away from the shoulder of the wearer, a bruise pad attachment comprising a flexible insert having an inflatable portion, securing means for securing the insert and the shoulder pad together, the size and shape of the insert being such that said inflatable portion, when partially inflated, extends beyond the arch portion to cover the deltoid region of the wearer.
 2. In a protective shoulder pad having an arch portion and a shoulder strap which supports at least part of the arch portion away from the shoulder of the wearer, a bruise pad attachment comprising a flexible insert having an inflatable portion, means for inflating said inflatable portion, and a flap connected to said inflatable portion, said flap being of sufficient length to be folded around said strap to secure the insert in position with said inflatable portion located in the gap adjacent the deltoid region of the wearer to cushion blows to that region.
 3. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein said inflatable portion and said flap are of unitary construction.
 4. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein said flap is at least two times as long as the width of said shoulder strap.
 5. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein said insert is formed of complementary portions sealed about the periphery and sealed between said inflatable portion and said flap.
 6. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein said inflatable portion and said flap are separated from one another by a first seal extending entirely across the insert.
 7. The invention set forth in claim 6 wherein a second seal extends entirely across said flap, said second seal being generally parallel to said first seal and spaced from said first seal a distance approximately equal to the width of said shoulder strap.
 8. An improved cantilever type shoulder pad having an arch portion with padding thereunder, a floppet, a cap with padding thereunder, and a shoulder strap which supports at least part of the arch portion away from the shoulder of the wearer leaving an unprotected gap in the deltoid region of the wearer, comprising a flexible insert having an inflatable portion and a non-inflatable flap extending therefrom, means for inflating said inflatable portion, said flap passing over said strap and then under said strap between said strap and the arch padding, the size and shape of said flap and said inflatable portion being such that said inflatable portion, when partially inflated, fills the gap in the deltoid region of the wearer to cushion blows to that region.
 9. The invention set forth in claim 8 wherein the partially inflated portion of said insert is carried on the outside of the arch portion and partially beneath the shoulder pad cap and extends outwardly and downwardly from the front part of said cap.
 10. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said inflatable portion of the insert is formed of complementary portions sealed about the periphery and said securing means is connected with said inflatable portion exteriorly of the seal about the periphery.
 11. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein the partially inflated portion of said insert is carried on the outside of the arch portion and extends outwardly beyond the arch portion. 